I'm known for my strong views on mobile technology, online media, and the effect this has on and communication will have on the public conscious and existing businesses.
I've been following this space for over ten years, working with a number of publishers, publications and media companies, some for long periods of time, others for commissions, one-off pieces or a series of articles or shows.
As Scotland’s first podcaster, I continue to be a prominent voice in the rise of podcasting and new media online, and picked up a British Academy (BAFTA) nomination for my annual coverage of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, alongside contributions to Radio 5 Live, the BBC World Service, presenting Edinburgh local radio's coverage of the General Election.
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This Is How To Hold Your iPad

While there are a few people who will leave their tablet unprotected, the majority of users will wrap up their precious portable in a case of some description. There are countless designs, with various practical elements, but the case that has really caught my attention is Chil’sNotchbook range of cases.

The cases themselves follow the traditional folio style, with a strong back and foldover cover, leaving the edges of your tablet exposed so you can reach the buttons and ports as required. This gives a good balance of protection against accessibility, although the Chil Notchbook is not the slimmest of cases once you place your iPad or Android tablet into the case.

It’s also worth noting that the case will automatically switch your iPad on and off in the same way as the smart covers and smart cases from Apple can do.

The Chil Notchbook (picture: Ewan Spence)

The hardware is secured with four elasticated loops at each corner. This is a practical solution, and I can understand why you would go this route (especially with the volume of Android tablets out there that are all slightly different shapes), but it’s not an elegant solution.

Inside your case you’ll find a microfibre suede lining that rests against your tablet without leaving any scratches, and in part helps you do a tiny bit of polishing on the screen, although with those tight-fitting loops holding the tablet in place, this doesn’t leave a lot of moment to polish the screen with the case in side.

The larger cases for the iPad Air and ten-inch Android tablets have a two-part design for the back of the case, which lets you rotate your tablet through the angles so you can balance your tablet open in either orientation using the indentations in the folio cover to rest the edge of the tablet in. The smaller cases for the iPad mini and the seven inch Android brigade don’t have the spinning option, but do allow you to prop up the tablet at a good viewing angle.

The Chil Notchbook (picture: Ewan Spence)

All of which you can find in any folio case. What makes the Notchbook case one of my favourite cases is simple. The notch.

The bottom section of the spine is held in place on one side by magnets. Unclip this and it folds out of the way, leaving a trapezoidal space you can slip your hand in. Thumb on the front, fingers at the back, and you suddenly have a stable grip of your tablet. It also brings your grip closer to the center of gravity, which makes for a more comfortable and stable experience when holding your tablet.

I’m a big consumer of content, especially eBooks, on my iPad Mini, and as a result I found the Notchbook Case is very well suited to how I use my tablet. If your focus is on a desktop environment then the Notchbook is cute, but no more than that. This case is for those out and about with their tablets, who walk and work, who consume content more than they create.

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